Independent in test case to open up court proceedings

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Lawyers from the Independent are involved in a test case to open up legal proceedings involving vulnerable people to greater public scrutiny.

Publisher Independent News and Media, along with a number of other media organisations, is bidding to make it easier to report cases involving vulnerable people incapable of managing their own affairs.

Cases could include brain-damaged soldiers, people with Alzheimer’s disease and others lacking mental capacity, the Independent reported today.

‘In a test case before the High Court in London, this newspaper argued that such matters should not be decided in secret by the newly created Court of Public Protection.

‘The challenge follows the opening up of the family courts this year, which allowed the media to attend and report on certain proceedings.”

Lawyers for INM have argued there is a strong public interest in the media being given access to appropriate Court of Protection cases.